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Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...

Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells

Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells

A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...

Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells

Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells

After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Published on: June 20, 2015

Pancreatic cancer stem cells.

Cheong J Lee¹, Joseph Dosch, Diane M Simeone

¹Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

|June 10, 2008

Summary

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor growth and metastasis. Pancreatic cancer stem cells, identified by specific markers, offer new therapeutic targets for this aggressive disease.

Area of Science:

Oncology
Cancer Biology
Stem Cell Research

Background:

Tumors exhibit cellular heterogeneity, with distinct subpopulations driving tumorigenesis.
The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis posits that a specific subset of cells initiates and propagates tumors.
CSCs have been identified in various human cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and characteristics of CSCs in human pancreatic cancer.
To identify molecular pathways regulating pancreatic CSC growth, survival, and metastasis.
To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting pancreatic CSCs.

Main Methods:

Characterization of pancreatic cancer cells using cell surface markers (CD44, CD24, epithelial-specific antigen).

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Assessment of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capabilities.

Analysis of gene expression, including developmental genes (Sonic hedgehog, BMI-1) and metastasis-related signaling cascades.

Main Results:

A subpopulation of pancreatic cancer cells exhibits CSC characteristics, representing 0.5% to 1.0% of tumor cells.
Pancreatic CSCs express CD44, CD24, and epithelial-specific antigen.
Upregulation of developmental genes (SHH, BMI-1) and pro-metastatic signaling pathways observed in pancreatic CSCs.

Conclusions:

Pancreatic cancers contain a distinct population of CSCs crucial for tumor progression.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing pancreatic CSCs is vital for developing effective treatments.
Targeting CSCs holds promise for improving therapeutic outcomes in pancreatic cancer.